To illustrate the issue, LeDuff highlights a case from last week in which two brothers — Miguel Chavez, 6 and Julio Chavez, 4 — had to be transported to the hospital in a fire truck because an EMS ambulance was unavailable.

Miguel died of smoke inhalation; his brother was listed in critical condition.

LeDuff said firefighters waited more than 12 minutes before deciding to take the boys themselves.

According to the report, Detroit is running one-third as many ambulances, 10, as the 30 it ran on a nightly basis a decade ago.

Fox 2 says it confirmed the ambulatory system is the target of a fraud investigation launched by the FBI and state Attorney General's Office related to ambulances responding to petty calls, "like bruised knees and twisted ankles" to gain eligibility for Medicaid reimbursement.

EMS is part of the Detroit Fire Department and employed 248 employees as of this past summer.

"The Emergency Medical Services Division of the Detroit Fire Department shall provide the highest level of pre-hospital care to the citizens, visitors, and stakeholders of the City of Detroit," the Detroit Fie Department website says. "The service shall be committed to providing twenty-four (24) hour efficient, effective treatment and transport of the sick and injured, while providing basic and advanced life-support care and transportation to definitive and/or specialized care facilities, with service based on equal availability to all persons."